Countering the figures of armed forces personnel deployed in insurgency-hit Tripura, CPI(M) General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet said the number of armed battalions in the State had in fact been reduced since the BJP came to power at the Centre.

On two occasions, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar came to New Delhi to appeal for more forces to tackle the insurgency problem in Tripura, Surjeet said at a press conference. ``Twentytwo of the 45 districts in the State have been declared disturbed,'' he said, adding the Congress party's demand that the entire State be declared a disturbed area was unwarranted.

``The cat is out of the bag,'' said Surjeet. He said the Congress wanted Tripura declared a disturbed area in view of the panchayat polls. ``The Congress has lost all credibility in the Stateand is now clutching at straws,'' he said.

Apart from Sarkar's pleas to the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu also appealed to Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and to Defence Minister George Fernandes last month for additional forces for Tripura. Both Advani and Fernandes assured him troops in Tripura would be augmented. ``But nothing has been done so far,'' said Surjeet.

Countering figures on troop deployment given by the Congress spokesman on Tuesday, Surjeet said there were three Army battalions in the State when the BJP-led Government came to power, which had been reduced to one. There were four battalions of the Assam Rifles, 11 battalions of the CRPF, of which three were not deployed for anti-insurgency activities. The strength of the BSF had been reduced, too.

The State-level coordination committee reviewed the insurgency problem and sought deployment of seven more battalions of the Army and Assam Rifles, Surjeet said. He also said the CPI(M) in the State was bearing the brunt ofmilitants' attacks. He pointed out a minister was killed, apart from numerous activists killed or kidnapped in recent months.